Maple News reports that Canada set a record-breaking pace in the first quarter of 2021 by inviting 44,124 immigration candidates through its Express Entry system — the highest in a single quarter since the program’s inception in 2015. This surge aligns with the federal government’s ambitious plan to welcome over 400,000 newcomers in 2021, aiming to compensate for immigration slowdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Express Entry remains Canada’s primary immigration system for economic class immigrants. The process begins when eligible candidates apply under one of three skilled worker programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Applicants are scored using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which evaluates factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience.
Typically, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds bi-weekly draws, inviting those with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residency. However, due to pandemic-related challenges, IRCC has temporarily shifted to conducting program-specific draws, favoring candidates already living in Canada and addressing specific labor market needs.
As travel restrictions and border closures continued into early 2021, IRCC increasingly favored draws for the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). In Q1 2021, there were 10 Express Entry draws: six PNP-only and four CEC-only. Of the total invitations, 41,708 went to CEC candidates, while 2,416 were issued via PNP streams. This approach aimed to select individuals more likely to complete the permanent residency process quickly while inside the country.
Most Canadian provinces and territories (excluding Nunavut and Quebec) operate a PNP to bring in skilled workers who can meet regional economic needs. Meanwhile, CEC offers a streamlined path to permanent residency for workers with at least one year of Canadian experience and adequate language skills.
The most notable development in Q1 came on February 13, when IRCC held the largest Express Entry draw to date. An unprecedented 27,332 CEC candidates received invitations to apply for permanent residence, with a record-low CRS threshold of just 75 points. Until that point, CRS cutoffs had consistently hovered above 400, making this draw a significant pivot in Canada’s immigration strategy.
This historic draw highlights IRCC’s commitment to stabilizing immigration targets in an uncertain global environment. Favoring candidates already in Canada alleviates the logistical complexity of international relocation during a pandemic while supporting the country’s economic recovery and demographic goals.
With its bold moves in early 2021, Canada not only sustained its immigration momentum but also reinforced its reputation as one of the most proactive nations in welcoming skilled newcomers — even in challenging times.